It seems like a harmless habit, however, no one likes the feeling of being ripped off, especially at the supermarket. And it’s exactly this feeling that many grocery store employees feel when they see customers eating produce, such as grapes or giving yoghurt pouches to children before paying for them.

An ALDI worker recently took to Reddit’s ‘Retail Hell’ thread to discuss this behaviour and to find out how regular customers and fellow employees feel about it.

Do you think it is okay to pick and eat produce here and there at the supermarket? Image source: Shutterstock.

'I work at ALDI. Obviously not a type of situation where you pay for food after you've eaten like a restaurant etc. I am interested to hear what others think about people consuming grocery store food before they have bought it? And if you do it yourself, what is your justification?' they asked.

The employee went on to explain that it 'astounds' them how many people open food and begin to eat it before paying.

'The worst two habits for me are people eating grapes, which are priced by weight, or giving their children items such as yoghurt pouches to eat to “keep them quiet” and then handing them over to be scanned all 'slimy' and 'slobbery',' they wrote.

This message struck a chord with other employees from a range of different supermarkets, who shared their own experiences of witnessing similar behaviour.

'I work at ALDI too and stealing grapes, I don’t really care about. It’s the people that steal and eat cherries that gets me,' they said.

'That produce is FILTHY and they are stupid for eating it without washing it first,' another added.

Humorously, one worker sent a warning out to 'people who graze the produce aisle like they’re a goat', while another joked: 'If they clean up after themselves, I don’t care if they eat a whole rotisserie chicken in front of me.'

Meanwhile, on the other side of the debate, some shoppers explained a few valid reasons for tasting or eating produce before paying.

'I always taste a grape,' one said. 'They are expensive and I don't want to buy grapes that don't taste good. But again, this is only one grape.'

Another customer said, ‘I will snatch a grape because I've bought a whole bag that, only when I got home did I realise every one of them was very very bitter. So, I just make sure I'm not buying sh**** grapes.’

At the end of the day, regardless of your opinion on the matter, we are all responsible for our own behaviour and etiquette when shopping at the supermarket! I think we can all agree there are certain behaviours that are acceptable, but there are some that cross the line…

So, members, what’s your take on acceptable behaviours in the supermarket? At what point do you think tasting produce at the supermarket is crossing the line? Or, do you think considering the cost of living you should be able to take something here and there? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[Nana Zorak]

I always try grapes as I have had some dreadful ones. I don't like paying for stuff that tastes bad.

 

[MariaG]

It seems like a harmless habit, however, no one likes the feeling of being ripped off, especially at the supermarket. And it’s exactly this feeling that many grocery store employees feel when they see customers eating produce, such as grapes or giving yoghurt pouches to children before paying for them.

An ALDI worker recently took to Reddit’s ‘Retail Hell’ thread to discuss this behaviour and to find out how regular customers and fellow employees feel about it.

View attachment 17818

Do you think it is okay to pick and eat produce here and there at the supermarket? Image source: Shutterstock.

'I work at ALDI. Obviously not a type of situation where you pay for food after you've eaten like a restaurant etc. I am interested to hear what others think about people consuming grocery store food before they have bought it? And if you do it yourself, what is your justification?' they asked.

The employee went on to explain that it 'astounds' them how many people open food and begin to eat it before paying.

'The worst two habits for me are people eating grapes, which are priced by weight, or giving their children items such as yoghurt pouches to eat to “keep them quiet” and then handing them over to be scanned all 'slimy' and 'slobbery',' they wrote.

This message struck a chord with other employees from a range of different supermarkets, who shared their own experiences of witnessing similar behaviour.

'I work at ALDI too and stealing grapes, I don’t really care about. It’s the people that steal and eat cherries that gets me,' they said.

'That produce is FILTHY and they are stupid for eating it without washing it first,' another added.

Humorously, one worker sent a warning out to 'people who graze the produce aisle like they’re a goat', while another joked: 'If they clean up after themselves, I don’t care if they eat a whole rotisserie chicken in front of me.'

Meanwhile, on the other side of the debate, some shoppers explained a few valid reasons for tasting or eating produce before paying.

'I always taste a grape,' one said. 'They are expensive and I don't want to buy grapes that don't taste good. But again, this is only one grape.'

Another customer said, ‘I will snatch a grape because I've bought a whole bag that, only when I got home did I realise every one of them was very very bitter. So, I just make sure I'm not buying sh**** grapes.’

At the end of the day, regardless of your opinion on the matter, we are all responsible for our own behaviour and etiquette when shopping at the supermarket! I think we can all agree there are certain behaviours that are acceptable, but there are some that cross the line…

So, members, what’s your take on acceptable behaviours in the supermarket? At what point do you think tasting produce at the supermarket is crossing the line? Or, do you think considering the cost of living you should be able to take something here and there? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

I do not eat fruit before I take it home and wash it first. No matter what it is, you don't know what has been sprayed on it, has had something crawl over it and has been touched by countless pairs or hands.
Whilst on the subject of fruit, anyone else lose patience whilst having to wait forever while someone takes up the aisle so they can pick one cherry or bean or mushroom, or any loose item turning each bit around in their hand, then if they don't want it throw it back into the container. Yet another good reason not to test fresh product before you buy. Ughhh.

 

[elcid01]

It seems like a harmless habit, however, no one likes the feeling of being ripped off, especially at the supermarket. And it’s exactly this feeling that many grocery store employees feel when they see customers eating produce, such as grapes or giving yoghurt pouches to children before paying for them.

An ALDI worker recently took to Reddit’s ‘Retail Hell’ thread to discuss this behaviour and to find out how regular customers and fellow employees feel about it.

View attachment 17818

Do you think it is okay to pick and eat produce here and there at the supermarket? Image source: Shutterstock.

'I work at ALDI. Obviously not a type of situation where you pay for food after you've eaten like a restaurant etc. I am interested to hear what others think about people consuming grocery store food before they have bought it? And if you do it yourself, what is your justification?' they asked.

The employee went on to explain that it 'astounds' them how many people open food and begin to eat it before paying.

'The worst two habits for me are people eating grapes, which are priced by weight, or giving their children items such as yoghurt pouches to eat to “keep them quiet” and then handing them over to be scanned all 'slimy' and 'slobbery',' they wrote.

This message struck a chord with other employees from a range of different supermarkets, who shared their own experiences of witnessing similar behaviour.

'I work at ALDI too and stealing grapes, I don’t really care about. It’s the people that steal and eat cherries that gets me,' they said.

'That produce is FILTHY and they are stupid for eating it without washing it first,' another added.

Humorously, one worker sent a warning out to 'people who graze the produce aisle like they’re a goat', while another joked: 'If they clean up after themselves, I don’t care if they eat a whole rotisserie chicken in front of me.'

Meanwhile, on the other side of the debate, some shoppers explained a few valid reasons for tasting or eating produce before paying.

'I always taste a grape,' one said. 'They are expensive and I don't want to buy grapes that don't taste good. But again, this is only one grape.'

Another customer said, ‘I will snatch a grape because I've bought a whole bag that, only when I got home did I realise every one of them was very very bitter. So, I just make sure I'm not buying sh**** grapes.’

At the end of the day, regardless of your opinion on the matter, we are all responsible for our own behaviour and etiquette when shopping at the supermarket! I think we can all agree there are certain behaviours that are acceptable, but there are some that cross the line…

So, members, what’s your take on acceptable behaviours in the supermarket? At what point do you think tasting produce at the supermarket is crossing the line? Or, do you think considering the cost of living you should be able to take something here and there? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[elcid01]

My wife and I ( at different times ) taste one grape to make sure they are not bitter or toooo sweet

 

[SGH]

My pet peeve is children running riot in supermarkets like its their own personal playground. They say bye mum we'll see you in the toy aisle or something similar and on the way they go via the lolly section and chips, and drinks having a virtual feast while mum chats away on her mobile. Then after they have finished the sugar hit they get in the toys open packages, bounce around balls, or play hide and seek and squeal that ear piercing, high pitched squeal and run into shoppers mainly retired and cause more damage than a tornado.

 

[TheBear]

Stealing is stealing!!
If you did not pay for it, before consuming in the store, then it is stolen.

Nah! If you intend to pay for it, and you do pay for it, I figure you can eat it. Just like a restaurant. You eat first, then pay.
But. If you eat a handful of grapes, or nuts, or whatever needs weighing, yes, that's theft.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Sorry, but it is, at the time of drinking it you hadn't paid for it, that is theft.
If you are so often feeling thirsty while.shopping, take a drink with you from home.

I understand that if every customer takes a grape, the store could be down an entire kg or more at the end of a day. But, by the customer taste testing a grape their sales could go up. If you try it and it is good, you buy it. Increase in sales. As for giving the child a yoghurt pouch, I see no harm in this practice if the customer is paying for it at the end. I have many times taken a juice, a bottle of water or soft drink and drank it while shopping as I was feeling dehydrated. However, I always pay for it at the end. That is not stealing.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I have never heard of such a policy, I think you've invented that one.
I shop at two different Aldi's and have shopped at different ones in the past.
This has never happened.
If you are so unhappy with the service why don't you shop elsewhere.
the crap service at Aldi I recon its any thing goes, I am sick and tired of going to the store to find advertised specials are not available on the opening day, would it be too much to place a sign up letting customers know.

I had an experience a Greensborough Vic where ALL the check outs were closed, When I yelled out at top of my voice that every one should walk out without paying you should have seen the pricks crawling out of the woodwork. There check out policy of not opening another checkout if there is less than 8 people at the only one open really gets up my clacker. Pack them up and send them back to Germany or where ever theyv came frominvEnted

 

[mylittletibbies]

But it's not a restaurant is it, it's a supermarket. Unfortunately you don't seem to know the difference.

Nah! If you intend to pay for it, and you do pay for it, I figure you can eat it. Just like a restaurant. You eat first, then pay.
But. If you eat a handful of grapes, or nuts, or whatever needs weighing, yes, that's theft.

 

[Ducksnuts]

It seems like a harmless habit, however, no one likes the feeling of being ripped off, especially at the supermarket. And it’s exactly this feeling that many grocery store employees feel when they see customers eating produce, such as grapes or giving yoghurt pouches to children before paying for them.

An ALDI worker recently took to Reddit’s ‘Retail Hell’ thread to discuss this behaviour and to find out how regular customers and fellow employees feel about it.

View attachment 17818

Do you think it is okay to pick and eat produce here and there at the supermarket? Image source: Shutterstock.

'I work at ALDI. Obviously not a type of situation where you pay for food after you've eaten like a restaurant etc. I am interested to hear what others think about people consuming grocery store food before they have bought it? And if you do it yourself, what is your justification?' they asked.

The employee went on to explain that it 'astounds' them how many people open food and begin to eat it before paying.

'The worst two habits for me are people eating grapes, which are priced by weight, or giving their children items such as yoghurt pouches to eat to “keep them quiet” and then handing them over to be scanned all 'slimy' and 'slobbery',' they wrote.

This message struck a chord with other employees from a range of different supermarkets, who shared their own experiences of witnessing similar behaviour.

'I work at ALDI too and stealing grapes, I don’t really care about. It’s the people that steal and eat cherries that gets me,' they said.

'That produce is FILTHY and they are stupid for eating it without washing it first,' another added.

Humorously, one worker sent a warning out to 'people who graze the produce aisle like they’re a goat', while another joked: 'If they clean up after themselves, I don’t care if they eat a whole rotisserie chicken in front of me.'

Meanwhile, on the other side of the debate, some shoppers explained a few valid reasons for tasting or eating produce before paying.

'I always taste a grape,' one said. 'They are expensive and I don't want to buy grapes that don't taste good. But again, this is only one grape.'

Another customer said, ‘I will snatch a grape because I've bought a whole bag that, only when I got home did I realise every one of them was very very bitter. So, I just make sure I'm not buying sh**** grapes.’

At the end of the day, regardless of your opinion on the matter, we are all responsible for our own behaviour and etiquette when shopping at the supermarket! I think we can all agree there are certain behaviours that are acceptable, but there are some that cross the line…

So, members, what’s your take on acceptable behaviours in the supermarket? At what point do you think tasting produce at the supermarket is crossing the line? Or, do you think considering the cost of living you should be able to take something here and there? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Maybe the shop could put out a tasting sample.

 

[TheBear]

But it's not a restaurant is it, it's a supermarket. Unfortunately you don't seem to know the difference.

Meow!

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

Since when is stealing harmless. You want to taste the fruit, then buy it. Am shocked that customers get away with this. Who knows what diseases that customer's hand may carry or have been. That girl is obviously used to stealing as she looks like a professional. Customers should be reported to police.

 

[mylittletibbies]

CC

I have never heard of such a policy, I think you've invented that one.
I shop at two different Aldi's and have shopped at different ones in the past.
This has never happened.
If you are so unhappy with the service why don't you shop elsewhere.
the crap service at Aldi I recon its any thing goes, I am sick and tired of going to the store to find advertised specials are not available on the opening day, would it be too much to place a sign up letting customers know.